Holiday weekend kicks off summer // PHOTO GALLERY

Big crowds gathered on the beaches for the holiday weekend in Panama City Beach on Saturday.

Andrew P. Johnson | The News Herald

By JACQUELINE BOSTICK / The News Herald

Published: Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 07:31 PM.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — To take a stroll down the pier, gaze upon stretches of clear emerald and blue water, feel sand between their toes — Lindsey Attebury knew it wouldn’t take much to convince her boyfriend to visit Panama City Beach during the week of the Memorial Day holiday.

“This is our vacation time; it was the only week we got off together,” 23-year-old Attebury said, her left hand grasping her boyfriend’s — Curtis Swearer — right.

“It’s amazing,” she added. “We don’t see bodies of water where we’re from.”

The couple visiting from Evansville, Ind., are among many visitors pouring into the area to soak up the sun and feast their eyes on the waters as summer rolls in.

Andy Hicks, attendant at Russell-Fields Pier, said Memorial Day is the calendar starting point of a full two months of steady pier traffic.

“It usually picks up Memorial Day and stays that way throughout the summer,” Hicks said. “It picks up quite a bit during (the holiday) weekend. We have a lot of (visitors to the pier) — about 20 to 30 percent more than usual,” he said, noting July 4 also sees a surge of visitors.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — To take a stroll down the pier, gaze upon stretches of clear emerald and blue water, feel sand between their toes — Lindsey Attebury knew it wouldn’t take much to convince her boyfriend to visit Panama City Beach during the week of the Memorial Day holiday.

“This is our vacation time; it was the only week we got off together,” 23-year-old Attebury said, her left hand grasping her boyfriend’s — Curtis Swearer — right.

“It’s amazing,” she added. “We don’t see bodies of water where we’re from.”

The couple visiting from Evansville, Ind., are among many visitors pouring into the area to soak up the sun and feast their eyes on the waters as summer rolls in.

Andy Hicks, attendant at Russell-Fields Pier, said Memorial Day is the calendar starting point of a full two months of steady pier traffic.

“It usually picks up Memorial Day and stays that way throughout the summer,” Hicks said. “It picks up quite a bit during (the holiday) weekend. We have a lot of (visitors to the pier) — about 20 to 30 percent more than usual,” he said, noting July 4 also sees a surge of visitors.

And many tourists will be like Swearer, who after just a taste of what the city has to offer, “kind of” didn’t want to leave the city.

“I wish I could live here,” he said with a smile.

The couple said they plan to visit Shell Island, as well.

Summertime is “prime time” in Panama City Beach, said Director of Bay County Tourist Development Council, Dan Rowe.

“There’s a lot going on, but it’s all about family fun and vacations,” Rowe said.

He said some activity highlights of the summer include: the 2013 Grand Slam World Series of Baseball scheduled from mid-June to late July, United States Fastpitch Assocation’s (USFA) World Series in July and a patriotic concert at Aaron Bessant Park followed by a simultaneous fireworks show off of M.B. Miller County Pier and Russell-Fields Pier on July 4.

“The Fourth of July weekend is the epitome of our summer season — that means it’s going to be great,” he added.

An airman from Meridian, Miss., also was visiting the area during the weekend. Jayde Sharp returned from deployment at Bargum, Afghanistan on Friday.

He said he was deployed since the first of the year and a family vacation was planned when he returned home.

His wife, Suzanne, had visited the area as a child and spoke “real highly” of it.

“I got a nice sunburn on my first day here,” Sharp said chuckling. “It’s my first time here — I’ve been through — but I’ve never stayed.”

So far, the couple and their daughters Ainsley, 10, and Breanna, 16, have visited the sand bars and gone snorkeling.

“And I love it. It’s nice. The sandy beaches are beautiful and you can’t beat this water,” he added.